Вера Моисеева - Пословица не даром молвится. Пособие для учителей английского языка

The aim of the exercises is to improve the students understanding and use of proverbs, and help them master spoken English in general. The exercises are meant for writing work at home. In class the students may be given exercises, such as:

– Build up a dialogue around a situation covered by this or that proverb

– Explain the meaning of the following proverbs or phraseological units in English

– In the book you are reading find passages which may be commented upon by using certain proverbs

– In the book you are reading find proverbs or phraseological units originating from them and comment on their use

– Translate from Russian into English the following passages containing proverbs

– Make up a story using the given proverb in the end or in the beginning of it

Technically speaking, a proverb is a sentence which has the following characteristics:

– it is not created in the process of speech but exists and is reproduced as a ready-made unit;

– it is characterized by the stability and relative constancy of its structure;

– it expresses some well-known truth or some kind of admonition and always has a generalized meaning;

– it is brief and vivid and often contains parallel or contrasting parts, rhyme, alliteration, and a certain rhythm.

All the components of a proverb are very important and interdependent.

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Лучше синица в руке, чем журавль в небе.

2. A burnt child dreads the fire.

Обжегшись на молоке, дуешь и на воду.

3. Actions speak louder than words.

Не по словам судят, а по делам.

4. A drowning man will catch at a straw.

Утопающий за соломинку хватается.

5. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Друзья познаются в беде.

6. All's well that ends well.

Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается.

7. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживет.

8. Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies.

Не лезь в душу.

9. A stitch in time saves nine.

Хороша ложка к обеду.

10. As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.

Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь.

11. A watched pot never boils.

За которым горшком наблюдают, тот не скоро вскипает.

Когда ждёшь, время тянется медленно.

12. Better late than never.

Лучше поздно, чем никогда.

13. Don't cross the bridges before you come to them.

Не стоит беспокоиться раньше времени.

14. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Нет худа без добра.

15. Half a loaf is better than no bread.

На безрыбье и рак рыба.

16. In for a penny, in for a pound.

Назвался груздем – полезай в кузов.

17. It's a long lane that has no turning.

Сколько веревочке не виться.

18. It's an ill wind that blows nobody good.

Нет худа без добра.

19. Least said, soonest mended.

Меньше слов, больше дела.

20. Like mother, like daughter (or: Like father, like son).

Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает.

Сын в отца пошел.

21. Look before you leap.

Семь раз отмерь, один отрежь.

Не зная броду, не суйся в воду.

22. Make hay while the sun shines.

Коси, коса, пока роса.

Куй железо, пока горячо.

23. Misfortunes never come alone.

Пришла беда ─ отворяй ворота.

24. No news is good news (also: No news good news).

Отсутствие новостей – хорошая новость.

25. None so blind as they who will not see (also: There are none so blind as those who won't see).

Нет более слепого, чем тот, кто не желает видеть.

26. No smoke without fire.

Нет дыма без огня.

27. Nothing venture, nothing have.

Попытка ─ не пытка.

Волков бояться ─ в лес не ходить.

Риск ─ благородное дело.

Смелость города берет.

28. Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.

Старого воробья на мякине не проведешь.

29. Once bit (or: bitten), twice shy.

Пуганная ворона куста боится.

30. One good turn deserves another.

Услуга за услугу.

Долг платежом красен.

31. Out of sight, out of mind.

С глаз долой, из сердца вон.

32. Prevention is better than cure.

Предупреждение лучшее лечение.

33. Seeing is believing.

Лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать.

34. Second thoughts are best.

Семь раз отмерь, один отрежь.

35. Still waters run deep.

В тихом омуте черти водятся.

36. Strike while the iron is hot.

Куй железо, пока горячо.

37. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

He так страшен черт, как его малюют.

38. The early bird catches the worm.

Кто рано встает, того удача ждет.

Кто рано встает, тому бог подает.

39. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Обед узнают по кушанью, а ум по слушанью.

40. There is no accounting for tastes. Tastes differ.

На вкус и цвет товарищей нет. О вкусах не спорят.

41. There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.

He говори «гоп», пока не перепрыгнешь.

42. There is no use crying over spilt milk.

Слезами горю не поможешь.

Что с возу упало, то пропало.

43. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

У семи нянек дитя без глаза.

44. Two is company but three is none.

Третий лишний.

45. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Где хотенье, там и уменье.

46. While there is life there is hope.

Надежда умирает последней.

47. You can't eat your cake and have it.

За двумя зайцами погонишься, ни одного не поймаешь.

Тask 1. Read and translate the meaning of the proverbs using the vocabulary.

Explanatory notes:

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: a sure advantage is better than an expected advantage. It is better to accept something tangible, if not very valuable, at the present moment than to wait for a more valuable thing which is however beyond our reach, so far. A bird in the hand is something that one already has as opposed to something one may possibly obtain, i.e. a bird in the bush.

2. A burnt child dreads the fire: after some bitter or painful experience one is supposed to become careful and keep away from the cause of one's troubles or sufferings.